SECTION 288.1. Purpose of article.

SECTION 288.2. Criminal and civil immunity.

SECTION 288.3. Limitations of article; prohibition on smoking public.

SECTION 288.4. Definitions.

SECTION 288.5. Rules and regulations; fees; identification cards; fines and sanctions.

SECTION 288.6. Assessment of sales tax; special fund in treasury; personnel positions; line of credit.

SECTION 288.7. Identification cards; immunity from sanctions.

SECTION 288.8. Limitations on amount of marijuana; dispensed only by treatment centers; contracts enforceable; location of centers; zoning restrictions.

SECTION 288.9. Reports to legislature.

SECTION 288.10. Severability of article.

NOTE: Article 15, Section 273(10) of the Mississippi Constitution provides that initiatives approved by the electors take effect thirty (30) days from the date of the official declaration of the vote by the Secretary of State, unless the measure provides otherwise. Initiative 65 was approved by the electors on November 3, 2020, and the Secretary of State certified the election results on December 3, 2020. Pursuant to his authority under Section 23-17-42, the Secretary of State inserted Initiative 65 into the Constitution as Article 16, Sections 288.1 through 288.10 by proclamation of the Secretary of State on March 29, 2021.

However, on May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court ruled in In re Initiative Measure No. 65 v. Watson, 2021 Miss. LEXIS 123 that the petition submitted to the Secretary of State seeking to place Initiative 65 on the ballot for the November 3, 2020, general election was insufficient. Because Initiative 65 was placed on the ballot without meeting Article 15, § 273(3) prerequisites, it was in violation of the Mississippi Constitution, and the court reversed the Secretary of State’s certification of the initiative and voided any subsequent proceedings on it.